A state regulator on Tuesday approved Charter Communications Inc.’s acquisition of Cox Communications Inc.’s Connecticut subsidiaries, clearing a major state hurdle for a deal that would create the nation’s largest cable and broadband provider by subscriber count.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority voted unanimously to approve the transaction, finding that Charter possesses the financial, technological and managerial suitability required under state law, and that the deal is in the public interest.
The merger, first announced in May 2025 and valued at roughly $34.5 billion, will combine Charter — which operates under the Spectrum brand in Connecticut — with Cox, which serves customers in parts of the state through franchise areas including Manchester, Enfield and Meriden.
The combined company will operate under the Cox Communications name and remain headquartered in Stamford, where Charter currently employs roughly 2,000 Connecticut workers.
The deal is expected to close this year, pending any remaining regulatory approvals.
PURA found minimal competitive impact from the merger, noting that Charter and Cox serve largely non-overlapping service territories in Connecticut, with just 46 overlapping broadband-serviceable locations out of roughly 1.5 million statewide.
As a condition of approval, PURA incorporated a 38-point settlement agreement negotiated between Charter, Cox, Cox Enterprises Inc., the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Consumer Counsel. Among the key terms: Charter committed to maintain its Stamford corporate headquarters for at least five years following the close of the transaction, contribute $3 million over five years for digital access and literacy programs in distressed municipalities, and honor existing “price for life” customer agreements.
Charter also agreed to ban downgrade fees for cable TV customers, notify regulators of major outages affecting at least 1,000 customers, keep brick-and-mortar payment locations open in Willimantic and Newtown for two years post-closing, and file annual rate cards with PURA.
The approval comes amid ongoing workforce reductions at Charter. The Stamford-based company cut about 1,200 corporate and back-office positions in October 2025, and its annual report filed with federal regulators showed total headcount fell by roughly 2,600 employees over the course of 2025, to about 91,900 full-time equivalent workers.
PURA noted in its decision that it remains “concerned about the impact of the proposed transaction on the Connecticut workforce,” but said Charter’s settlement commitment to maintain its Stamford presence, along with consumer protections in the agreement, supported a finding that the transaction is in the public interest.
Charter shareholders overwhelmingly approved the deal in August 2025, with more than 99% of votes cast in favor. Once finalized, the combined company will serve more than 37 million customers nationally, surpassing Comcast as the country’s largest cable and broadband provider.
